Letter: Michigan energy public forum at WMU will focus on shift to clean energy

The following is a letter to the editor that was sent to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

TOM TAYLOR/Sturgis

I had the opportunity to attend one of Governor Rick Snyder's Michigan Energy Public Forums in Lansing several weeks ago and was excited to hear that Western Michigan University would be hosting one of these events on March 18.

These events focus on making our energy affordable and reliable while protecting our environment here in Michigan. By increasing renewable energy we can create new jobs, prevent rising energy costs and launch new businesses in the state.

A shift towards clean energy not only benefits our economy, it also keeps our air and water safe. We can prevent disasters like the 2010 Kalamazoo oil spill from happening again. Catastrophes like these have a detrimental impact on both our environment and our health.

Through these open forums we can come together to tell Michigan decision-makers that Kalamazoo supports clean, renewable energy, and cost-saving energy efficiency.